Melatonin as a sleep inductor for electroencephalogram recordings in children

Objective: To determine the efficacy of melatonin in obtaining sleep electr oencephalograms in children. Methods: Melatonin was used in 68 unselected children referred to the neuro physiology department for sleep electroencephalogram (EEG). A group of 68 c hildren matched for age and sex who underwent EEGs after sleep deprivation in the same period was used as control. Sleep latency, as well as latency f rom stage 1 to stages 2, 3 and 4 were measured. Results: No difference in the number of children who went to sleep was seen . No significant difference is the macrostructure of sleep was seen, other than a reduced sleep latency for the melatonin group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The study suggests that melatonin can reliably be used for obta ining sleep EEGs in children. Its use seems to provide a good alternative t o pharmacological sedation and a complementary method to sleep deprivation. <(c)> 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.